♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," CONGRESSWOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI JOINS US TO DISCUSS U.S.

DOMESTIC POLICY REGARDING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND U.S.

FOREIGN POLICY ON GREENLAND AND IRAN.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WHAT ARE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PROTESTERS IN LIGHT OF SATURDAY'S DEADLY SHOOTING BY I.C.E.

AGENTS IN MINNESOTA?

>>> AND A NEW ARIZONA COALITION AIMS TO HELP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PREPARE FOR LIFE AFTER GRADUATION.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A PROTESTER BY FEDERAL AGENTS IN MINNESOTA THIS WEEKEND IS RESULTING IN A GROWING OUTCRY AGAINST THE TACTICS USED BY I.C.E.

AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO CRACK DOWN ON IMMIGRATION.

JOINING US NOW IS ARIZONA CONGRESSWOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI.

GOOD TO YOU HAVE IN STUDIO.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

TED: INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE INCIDENT OVER THE WEEKEND AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE?

>> WELL, WHAT WE WITNESSED IN MINNESOTA ON SATURDAY, WHAT AMERICA WITNESSED WAS THE MURDER AND EXECUTION OF A 37-YEAR-OLD NAMED ALEX PRETTI AT THE HANDS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND I.C.E.

AND CBP.

WHAT IS EQUALLY APPALLING CAN THE ADMINISTRATION'S IMMEDIATE REACTION FILLED WITH LIES AND PROPAGANDA.

WE SAW THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM STAND IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ASK US TO NOT BELIEVE OUR OWN EYES IN WHAT WE SAW IN THE VIDEO, WHICH WAS, AGAIN, A MURDER OF THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO HELP A WOMAN WHO THEY HAD ASSAULTED UP.

IT IS DEVASTATING.

WE HEARD THE -- THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS HEARD FROM GOVERNOR TIM WALZ DIRECTLY AND ASKED US TO CONTINUE TO SHARE THE TRUTH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA.

I WAS ON THE GROUND THERE JUST AFTER THE MURDER OF RENEE NICOLE GOOD.

WE HEARD FROM LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE WHO MADE IT CLEAR THEIR WORK HAS BEEN DECIMATED BY THE I.C.E.

CHAOS.

NO TRUST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THAT IS IMPACTING THEIR ABILITY TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE.

WE HEARD FROM U.S.

CITIZENS ASSAULTED AND DETAINED BY I.C.E., AND IT'S DEVASTATING.

I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO CREATE CHAOS, TO CREATE THE GROUNDS AND FAKE JUSTIFICATION TO INVOKE THE INSURRECTION ACT, AND IT IS A VERY SERIOUS MOMENT IN THIS COUNTRY FOR OUR DEMOCRACY AND EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD BE ALARMED.

TED: SHOULD I.C.E.

BE ABOLISHED?

>> I THINK IT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.

CREATED UNDER 2003 UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, AND DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION, HAS HIRED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN WEEKS WITH NO TRAINING, AND THEIR MISSION IS TO HARM PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS, AND DO WE NEED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT?

YES.

DO WE NEED BORDER SECURITY?

ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I.C.E.

IS.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU.

SHOULD I.C.E.

BE ABOLISHED OR RADICALLY RE-FORMED?

>> I THINK ALL OF THIS TERMINOLOGY.

ALL OF THE TERMS MEAN THE SAME THING TO ME.

I THINK ICE IN ITS CURRENT FORM CANNOT EXIST.

WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION WHO WIPED OUT USA ID WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS IT WOULD HAVE AND NOW 600,000 PEOPLE DON'T HAVE -- DIED AS A RESULT OF THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING -- WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THERE'S NOTHING RADICAL ABOUT CHANGING UP AN AGENCY WHEN AN ADMINISTRATION COMES TO POWER.

I THINK I.C.E.

IN ITS CURRENT FORM HAS HARMED SO MANY PEOPLE AND SHOULD NOT EXIST, AND WE NEED A NEW FORM OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO INTRODUCE SOME BILLS.

HAVE YOU INTRODUCED THESE BILLS TO REIN IN I.C.E., IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

NEXT WEEK WE'RE INTRODUCING THREE BILLS TO REIN IN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH I.C.E.

THE FIRST BILL IS TO ELIMINATE THE $170 BILLION THAT I.C.E.

WAS GIVEN AND DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WAS GIVEN THROUGH THE BIG UGLY BILL.

THAT IS WHAT'S ALLOWING THEM TO RAMP UP IN THIS WAY.

ALLOWED THEM TO HIRE THOUSANDS OF UNTRAINED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CREATING CHAOS ON OUR STREETS.

THE OTHER THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IS AROUND MEDICAL CONDITIONS IN I.C.E.

DETENTION CENTERS.

THE REASON WHY THIS ONE IS SO IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TO ELOY SEVERAL TIMES.

I'VE SEEN THE CONDITIONS FIRSTHAND.

I HAVE A CONSTITUENT THERE ABOUT A YEAR NOW AND SHE HAS LEUKEMIA.

THEY DENIED HER ACCESS TO CARE.

IT TOOK MONTHS TO ADVOCATE TO GET HER AN ONCOLOGIST.

WE NEED REAL ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.

WHAT THIS BILL CALLS FOR IS REGULAR REPORTING FROM I.C.E.

DETENTION CENTERS ABOUT CONSTITUENTS AND DETAINEES WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS, WHAT TREATMENT THEY'RE GETTING AND IMPACTS ON CONTRACTS IF THEY ARE NOT GETTING TREATMENT THEY NEED.

TED: RECENT "NEW YORK TIMES" POLLING AND OTHER POLLING ANNOUNCE THE INVEST MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS ARE AGAINST THE ACTION BY I.C.E., BUT A VAST MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS SO FAR APPROVE.

HOW DO YOU GET THAT MESSAGE TO THEM, THE DYNAMIC TO WORK?

>> I THINK MORE AND MORE AMERICANS REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY ARE WAKING UP AND UNDERSTANDING THE HARM CAUSED BY I.C.E.

OVER THE WEEKEND, AND WE CAN SHE IN THE MESSAGES WE PUT OUT.

I WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING IS KRISTI NOEM REFERRED TO ALEX PRETTI AS ASSASSIN BECAUSE HE WAS ARMED, AND THAT IS LEGAL IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

HE HAD HIS WEAPON ON HIS WAISTBAND.

IT WAS REMOVED BY ICE ICE.

EVERY VIDEO AND PHOTO CONFIRMS THIS, AND YOU SAW THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION ACTUALLY PUT OUT A STATEMENT THAT DEMONSTRATED THEIR CONCERN WITH THE FACT THAT A LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNER WAS BEING CAPTURED AND REPRESENTED IN THAT MANNER, WHEN THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OR INDICATION HE ANY INTENTION TO CAUSE HARM.

WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL REPUBLICANS COME OUT AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST.

THIS SIX SENATORS AT THIS POINT IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS MADE STATEMENTS CALLING FOR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT HAPPENED, AND WE EVEN HAVE A SENATE CANDIDATE IN MINNESOTA ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WHO DROPPED OUT TODAY BECAUSE HE SAID HE CANNOT SUPPORT WHAT'S HAPPENING ANY LONGER.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- SATURDAY WAS A TURNING POINT IN THIS COUNTRY, HOPEFULLY FOR THE BETTER.

HOPEFULLY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZES THEY WENT TOO FAR AND RECOGNIZE THE SITUATION.

TED: THEY WALK BACK CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THIS SAYING THAT SECRETARY NOEM SHOULD NOT HAVE SAID WHAT SHE SAID.

THAT GOES -- THAT'S PART OF NOW THE MIX AS WE'RE SEEING THE CHANGE OF TONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.

REGARDING PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAVE YOU DESCRIBED HIM AS MENTALLY ILL AND THINK THE AMENDMENT SHOULD BE INVOKED.

EXPLAIN, PLEASE.

>> OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, DONALD TRUMP HAS CONTINUED TO ACT IN ERRATIC FASHION WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY.

HE, OF COURSE, HAD US ON THE BRINK OF WAR WITH EUROPE OVER GREENLAND AND WENT SO FAR AS TO SEND A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF NORWAY THAT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY A KINDERGARTNER SAYING BECAUSE HE WAS NOT AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND BLAMED THAT ON NORWAY, THEN THAT IS WHY HE'S NO LONGER PURSUING PEACE, AND THAT WE NEED TO OBTAIN OR SEIZE GREENLAND.

I'M SORRY, BUT THIS IS NOT THE RHETORIC OR THE ACTIONS OF A PERSON WHO WAS FIT TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

NATO IS A CRITICAL SECURITY ALLIANCE FOR THE UNITED STATES.

COUNTRIES LIKE DENMARK HAD MANY CASUALTIES WHEN THEY SUPPORTED DENMARK IN AFGHANISTAN AND PUTTING US IN DANGER SACRIFICING RELATIONSHIPS OF KEY ALLIES, THE DOMESTIC SITUATIONS ARE IMMENSE, AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY WANT HEALTH CARE, THEY DON'T WANT GREENLAND AND THAT MEANS HE IS UNFIT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

TED: THERE ARE SOME FOLKS IN IRAN, THOUGH, AND YOU ARE OF IRANIAN HERITAGE HERE, WHO THINK THAT THE UNITED STATES DID OKAY THE ADMINISTRATION.

CURRENT LEADERSHIP IN IRAN COULD HAVE DONE MORE, BUT APPRECIATES THE UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY IN THAT DIRECTION.

THIS IS CLOSE TO YOU.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT IN THAT.

THERE ARE MANY IRANIANS WHO WANT THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT THE IRANIAN PEOPLE, AND THE REASON FOR THAT DESIRE STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT THERE'S A BRUTAL REGIME IN IRAN THAT IS RELENTLESS IN HOW THEY ARE WILLING TO MASS MURDER THE POPULATION.

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST ESTIMATES FROM THE MAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION LOOKING AT NUMBER OF PEOPLE KILLED BY THE REGIME DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THEY CONFIRMED 5,000 PEOPLE MURDERED, THEY'RE INVESTIGATING 17,000 MORE DEATHS.

THAT MEANS OVER 20,000 PEOPLE WERE LIKELY MURDERED BY THE REGIME.

THE IRANIAN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO OVERTHROW THEIR REGIME AND FEEL THEY CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT SUPPORT.

HERE'S WHAT I'LL SAY WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID.

THIS IS WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE ERRATIC BEHAVIOR.

HE TOOK TO SOCIAL MEDIA, PROCLAIMED SUPPORT FOR THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.

HE SAID, QUOTE, HELP IS ON THE WAY.

THAT DID GIVE THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF COUNTLESS MORE PEOPLE TO GO OUT ON THE STREETS AND PROTEST BECAUSE THEY HATE THEIR GOVERNMENT.

RIGHTLY SO.

TENS OF THOUSANDS LIKELY WERE SLAUGHTERED, AND NO HELP EVER CAME.

NO HELP HAS COME FROM THE UNITED STATES IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM FOR THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.

IN FACT THERE WAS A DEPORTATION FLIGHT YESTERDAY THAT WAS SET TO GO OUT WITH 40 PEOPLE ON IT THAT MYSELF AND MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND SENATORS WORKED TO TRY TO GET A FEW PEOPLE OFF OF THAT, THAT WOULD SEND IRANIAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS BACK TO THE REGIME.

THERE IS TANGIBLE STEPS THE ADMINISTRATION COULD TAKE.

THERE IS INTERNET FREEDOM, BILLS IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW THAT COULD BE PASSED TO SUPPORT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THE REGIME IN IRAN DID IS SHUT DOWN INTERNET FOR DAYS IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY COMMITTED ATROCITIES IN THE DARK.

WE COULD HELP TO SELL CONNECTIVITY, SUPPORT WITH SATELLITE SERVICES SO THE PEOPLE CAN GET THE INTERNET.

THAT IS SOMETHING THE ADMINISTRATION COULD DO RIGHT.

TED: 30 SECONDS LEFT.

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY IN EVERY REALM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: CONGRESSWOMAN YASSAMIN ANSARI THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE FATAL SHOOTING BY I.C.E.

AGENTS RAISES QUESTIONS, YET AGAIN, WITH THE CONSTITUTIONALITY AND LIABILITY ABOUT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS WHO SHOOT AND KILL U.S.

PROTESTERS, AND WHAT IF ARIZONA IS THE NEXT TARGET FOR ENHANCED I.C.E.

OPERATIONS.

ROBERT McWHIRTER IS A CRIMINAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER, AND HE JOINS US NOW.

>> HI, TED.

TED: HOW DID I.C.E.

GO FROM BORDER GUARDS, AS WE REMEMBER THEM, TO A PARAMILITARY FORCE.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> WELL, THEY GOT BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THE REGULAR IMMIGRATION AGENTS WHO GENERALLY FOLLOW IMMIGRATION CRIMES WITHIN THE COUNTRY WERE NOT TOUGH ENOUGH FOR THIS TRUMP REGIME, AND THEY WANTED TO GIVE A BIGGER STATEMENT, BE ROUGHER, SO THEY TOOK BORDER GUARDS AND PUT THEM IN CHARGE OF INTERNAL ENFORCEMENT AND INCREASED THEIR NUMBER WITHOUT TRAINING, AND PARAMILITARIZED THEM TO DO THEIR JOB.

TED: WHAT IS THE JOB OF I.C.E., IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS AGENTS.

WHAT IS THE JOB SUPPOSED TO BE?

>> THE JOB IS SUPPOSED TO BE TO CUSTOMS, TO CHECK WHAT GOES ON AT THE BORDER, SUPPOSED TO BE TO SECURE THE BORDER, ESSENTIALLY.

THEY ARE BORDER AGENTS AND THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR JOB.

THEY ALSO SOMETIMES HAVE A ROLE IN CHASING AFTER ALIEN SMUGGLING CASES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, BUT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID, THE VAST MAJORITY OF IMMIGRATION VIOLATIONS ARE CIVIL, LIKE A TRAFFIC TICKET IS CIVIL.

YOU NOW HAVE A PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION THAT IS ENFORCING CIVIL, NOT CRIMINAL, LAW.

THAT GETS TO BE ABSURD.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE AND THE CRIMINAL PERSPECTIVE OF ALL THIS.

YOU ARE SAYING THE CRIMINAL IS FADING INTO THE CIVIL AND VICE VERSA?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS FROM A CRIMINAL LAW POINT OF VIEW, I KNOW STEPHEN MILLER AND THE VICE PRESIDENT MADE STATEMENTS THAT THE AGENTS HAVE IMMUNITY, IS QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

A FEDERAL AGENT HAS IMMUNITY TO ENFORCE FEDERAL LAW AND NOT BE SUBJECT TO STATE CRIMES OR STATE CHARGES, RIGHT?

THAT IS NOT IMMUNITY FROM COMMITTING A CRIME LIKE HOMICIDE OR ASSAULT, AND I WILL ALSO REMIND THE AGENTS, DESPITE WHAT THE VICE PRESIDENT SAID, HOMICIDE HAS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, SO I WOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY DO THEIR JOB.

TED: WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BEHOLDEN TO TRUMP FOR BETTER OR WORSE, WHETHER YOU SUPPORT THAT OR DON'T LIKE THAT, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE RIGHT NOW.

STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

STATE AND LOCAL PROSECUTORS, CAN THEY PICK UP THE SLACK ON THINGS LIKE THIS?

>> OF COURSE.

THE CRIMES COMMITTED HERE ARE STATE CRIMES, AND I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF THE BANK ROBBERY.

IN A BANK ROBBERY IT'S INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI AND IT'S A FEDERAL CHARGE.

IT CAN ALSO BE A STATE CHARGE BY STATE INVESTIGATORS CHARGED IN STATE COURT.

THEY WORK THAT OUT SO THEY DON'T DUPLICATE IT.

TED: RIGHT.

>> BUT BOTH HAVE JURISDICTION HERE.

IN FACT, FOR THE HOMICIDE COMMITTED OF ALEX PRETTI, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE STATE CRIME OF HOMICIDE, NOT A FEDERAL CRIME.

TED: STATES CAN PROSECUTE FEDERAL OFFICIALS, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

IF THEY ARE WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF THEIR DUTIES, AND COMMITTING A HOMICIDE IS UNDER THE SCOPE OF NOBODY'S FEDERAL DUTY.

TED: IS THERE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN MINNESOTA, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MINNESOTA AND ARIZONA IN THE SENSE OF, IF ALL THOSE FOLKS, THE FOLKS, THE I.C.E.

AGENTS GET TRANSFERRED HERE AND WE SEE THE SAME KIND OF THING DOWN HERE.

STATE LAWS, THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE, HOW DIFFERENT?

>> WELL, ARIZONA HAS A STAND YOUR GROUND LAW WHICH WOULD PRESUME CITIZENS TO FIRE BACK, THAT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

IF YOU LOOK AT FORMULA, IT IS VERY POSSIBLE IT COULD HAPPEN HERE.

WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND A DEMOCRATIC MAYOR IN PHOENIX.

THAT IS THE ONLY REAL CRITERION FOR TRUMP TO DO THIS.

THERE ARE OTHER REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CITIES THAT HAVE HIGHER IMMIGRATION POPULATIONS.

HIS CRITERIA IS TO PICK DEMOCRATS WHO ARE POLITICAL ENEMIES AND SEND THAT HERE, AND PHOENIX FITS THE FORMULA.

TED: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MADE HEADLINES REMARKING THAT THE STAND YOUR GROUND LAW COULD MAKE FOR A COMBUSTIBLE SITUATION.

>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS CORRECT.

DON'T FORGET, WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GUN-HOLDING PROTESTS, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE LAUDING KYLE RITTENHOUSE, THE YOUNG MAN WHO SHOT THE TWO BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS BECAUSE HE HAD A RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS DURING PROTEST.

AND THEY'RE TURNING ON THIS MAN ESSENTIALLY EXECUTED BY I.C.E.

IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD AFTER THEY DISARMED HIM, THAT IS UTTERLY INCONSISTENT.

YOU AND I HAVE GREAT CONVERSATIONS AND YOU ALWAYS GRACED ME WITH AN INVITATION.

I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT.

I DON'T ENJOY THIS.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION LIKE A WAY I'VE NEVER FELT BEFORE.

TED: LAST QUESTION HERE.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WORRY ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION RIGHT NOW?

>> THAT IT WILL BE CONTINUE TO BE IGNORED AND TRUMP WILL INVOKE THE INSURRECTION ACT, WHICH IS WHOLLY INAPPROPRIATE IN THIS CONTEXT AND UNDER ARTICLE IV OF OUR CONSTITUTION SAYS ONLY UNDER INVITATION OF THE LEGISLATURE CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTERVENE AND THE INSURRECTION ACT HAS NEVER BEEN INVOKED IN A SITUATION WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAUSED THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TED: QUICKLY, CAN THE INSURRECTION ACT MEAN A CESSATION OF ACTIVITIES UP TO AND INCLUDING AN ELECTION?

>> NOT UNDER THE INSURRECTION ACT.

THERE IS MARTIAL LAW THAT CAN BE CALLED.

THE ONLY TIME ELECTION NOT CONSIDERED IS 1864 AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID NO, THIS IS AMERICA, WE BELIEVE IN DEMOCRACY.

HE ENDED UP WINNING AN ELECTION THAT NOBODY EXPECTED BY A HANDED MAJORITY.

THAT SHOWED LINCOLN'S COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY.

THAT'S WHAT I FEEL WE'RE GOING TO LOSE HERE.

TED: CONSTITUTIONAL ATTORNEY ROBERT McWHIRTER, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: A NEW STATEWIDE COALITION OF EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS IS WORKING TO HELP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO REALISTICALLY PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME CHAD GESTSON, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NAU'S ARIZONA INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION AND THE ECONOMY.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK.

TED: GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

STATE 48 GRADUATE PROFILES HERE.

>> LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

WHAT IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THE UNDERSTAND OF THE JOURNEY, THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN ARIZONA.

WE WERE RECENTLY HERE ON YOUR SHOW HEARING ABOUT OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT DIVIDE US IN CHALLENGING THINGS IN SOCIETY.

ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED IS OUR CHILDREN, AND THE STATE 48 GRADUATE PROFILE IS AN INCREDIBLE VISION FOR OUR STATE'S CHILDREN.

TED: CLARIFYING EXPECTATIONS FOR GRADUATES, GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> WE SURVEYED FOCUS GROUPS, MEETINGS, CONVENING THOUSANDS OF ARIZONANS, TALKED TO PARENTS, STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, EMPLOYERS, ECONOMISTS.

WHAT IS IT THAT STUDENTS NEED TO BE READY WHEN THEY LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS A BOLD VISION FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO GROW INTO THAT WE HAVE TO PRODUCE STUDENTS THAT ARE READY FOR THE FUTURE.

THE ECONOMY IS CHANGING, SOCIETY IS CHANGING, STUDENTS NEED TO BE READY TO THRIVE.

TED: YOU HAVE FOUR FUTURISTS THAT SHOULD BE READY TO PURSUE, EMPLOYMENT, ENROLLMENT AND SERVICE.

>> BOTH ARE REALLY IMPORTANT BUT WE HEARD THAT ENLISTING INTO THE MILITARY, AMERICORPS AND PEACE CORPS BUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS IMPORTANT IN THE SOCIETY AND THE ECONOMY THAT STUDENTS LEAVE WITH AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MIND-SET.

TED: IS THAT DIFFERENT MIND-SET THAN THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY HAD OVER THE YEARS?

>> THE REALITY IS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL STRUCTURED FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS, THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE FOCUS, BUT AS SOCIETY CHANGES, TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, AS WORKFORCE CHANGES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EDUCATION EVOLVES WITH IT.

TED: WE NEED TO MAKE KIDS FUTURE PROOF.

>> WE NEED A FUTURE PROOF ECONOMY.

THE ONLY WAY WE GET THAT IS HAVE FUTURE PROOF GRADUATES.

TED: HOW TO TRANSLATE THIS PROFILE INTO PRACTICE?

>> IT'S A MULTIYEAR JOURNEY AHEAD OF US.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, FROM THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, EARLY CHILDHOOD, K-12, PHILANTHROPY, GOVERNMENT, YOU WILL SEE ADOPTION AND ALIGNMENT IN THE STATE 48 GRADUATE PROFILE.

WE KNOW WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY WALK ACROSS THE STAGE, WHAT THEY ARE PREPARED FOR, NOT JUST THE FOUR FUTURES BUT THE EIGHT ESSENTIALS.

STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE HIGH KNOWLEDGE OF LETTERS AND LITERACY.

THEY HAVE TO BE DIGITALLY FLUENT, WE ARE LIVING IN A TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

AND THE DURABLE AND THE HUMAN SKILLS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU WILL SEE FULL ALIGNMENT AROUND EVENTUALLY HAVING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STANDARDS, ASSESSMENT, GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

THESE ARE REALLY DIFFICULT YET IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS THAT ARIZONA MUST HAVE IN THE COMING YEARS.

TED: HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW, AND WHERE DO SCHOOLS FIT IN?

>> WE BUILT A MASSIVE STATEWIDE COALITION OVER 200 ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING OVER 15 COUNTIES, EARLY CHILDHOOD, K-12, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND A BIG PART OF THAT IS THE K-12 SYSTEM.

WE HAVE OVER 50 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, MICROSCHOOLS ENGAGED IN THE WORK.

WE KNOW THIS WIDESPREAD CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOT JUST IN K-12 BUT AROUND K-12.

TED: AND THE COALITION, WE MENTIONED GOVERNMENT AND CIVIC LEADERS AND SUCH, BUT AS FAR AS EDUCATION LEADERS CONCERNED, YOU HAVE SUCH A GAMUT IN ARIZONA.

YOU GOT PRIVATE SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, HOME SCHOOLS, TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS.

HOW DO YOU GET THE FOLKS ON BOARD WITH THE SAME PROFILE?

>> THE GREAT NEWS IS THEY ARE.

EVERYONE THAT YOU MENTIONED IS ENGAGED IN THIS COALITION.

DISTRICTS, CHARTER, MICROSCHOOLS, TRIBAL SCHOOLS, THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR UNIQUE COALITION THAT REPRESENTS RURAL, URBAN, DISTURB AN, INDIGENOUS, REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS SAYING WE HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON, THAT'S THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN.

IF WE CAN GET THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN RIGHT, WE GET THE FUTURE RIGHT.

TED: IN TERMS OF PRACTICALITY, HOW DOES IT START, BEGIN, GROW AND PROGRESS.

WHAT DO WE LOOK FOR AS FAR AS RESULTS?

>> YOU WILL SEE ADOPTION AND ALIGNMENT FROM FIRST THINGS FIRST, SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE AND CHARTER SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

YOU WILL SEE US PRESENTING THE CHARTER BOARD AND THE STATE BOARD TO START A PROCESS TO THINK ABOUT WHERE ARIZONA'S K-12 SYSTEM NEEDS TO GO.

YOU'LL SEE THE K-12 NONPROFIT SECTOR THAT SUPPORTS NONPROFITS LIKE ARIZONA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, SCI-TECH INSTITUTE BUT ARIZONA LEADERSHIP YOU WILL SEE ALIGNMENT AROUND ALL PROGRAMMING SO THE STATE OF ARIZONA POINTS TOWARD THE STATE 48 GRADUATE PROFILE.

TED: REAL QUICKLY.

ANY PUSHBACK ON THIS?

>> NO, WE'RE BUILDING THIS FOR ARIZONA FROM ARIZONA.

A BROAD COALITION OF STUDENTS TO THE LEADERS IN THE ECONOMY, WE'RE BUILDING THIS WITH ARIZONA FOR ARIZONA.

TED: CHAD GESTSON, ARIZONA INSTITUTE FOR EDUCATION AND THE ECONOMY UP THERE AT NAU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> LIKEWISE.

TED: THANK YOU.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.